Nessel’s lawsuit says Enbridge’s pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac violates Michigan’s public trust doctrine. Litigation went on in a state court for a year before Enbridge took the case to federal court.
Now, Nessel has filed a motion to bring the case back to “home territory,” arguing the courts made multiple errors in moving the case out of state.
Sean McBrearty is with Oil and Water Don’t Mix. He says the state court is a more appropriate venue for this case.
“This case is about the people’s rights under the public trust doctrine to protect the waters and bottomlands of the Great Lakes. Historically and by statute, cases like that are supposed to be heard in state court. It’s a state issue, not a federal issue.”
Nessel’s request was announced March 3rd. Enbridge has 10-days to respond. A federal judge will then decide whether to take the case.
